Hurricanes' Ward placed on IR

Raleigh, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - The Carolina Hurricanes placed goaltender Cam Ward on injured reserve Friday after leaving in the first period of Thursday's 3-1 loss at Minnesota.

Ward suffered a lower-body injury 4:07 into the first period and is expected to miss three to four weeks.

Carolina has recalled goaltender Mike Murphy from the Charlotte Checkers to replace him on the roster. Murphy, a native of Ontario, has posted a 1-2 record and 3.81 goals against average with Charlotte this season.

Justin Peters is expected to start Friday when Carolina wraps up their four- game road trip at Colorado.

In other roster moves Friday, the 'Canes activated defenseman Tim Gleason from IR and placed defenseman Brett Bellemore on the injured list.

Gleason is expected to make his season debut against the Avalanche tonight, after suffering a concussion in a September preseason contest. The 30-year-old will participate in his 600th NHL game as soon as he takes his first shift.